Labour Blog

Blog Archive | Environment

We have made clear that we don't believe there is enough space for any tax cuts in this Budget. Instead, we have argued for the construction of 5,000 public homes, and the funding of Sláintecare (a new national strategy to build our public healthcare system) as the central points of our proposals.

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil are having a phoney war over tax cuts that will amount to between €2 and €4 per week for middle-income families. We have said that cutting school costs, reducing college fees by €1,000 next year, eliminating hospital inpatient charges, and increasing the public subsidy of childcare would save families a lot more

On Saturday we held a lively discussion on our "Greening of Ireland" policy document where members, elected representatives and guest speakers outlined the challenges facing the environment and how Labour plans on tackling climate change.

A 'Just Transition' for those working in the fossil fuel industry was viewed as critical to support the livelihoods of workers in rural areas.

As someone from the midlands, a 'Just Transition' is totally necessary for those working in fossil fuels to protect their livelihoods #LP17

Listen below to the The Irish Times podcast with Brendan Howlin. In the podcast, Brendan chats to Hugh Linehan and Fiach Kelly about #LabourRebuild, our upcoming party conference and the state of social democracy in these changing times. Have a listen below,

The purpose of this Bill is to amend various pieces of legislation in order to make improvements to the current serious shortage in supply of housing for sale or for rent at affordable prices, and to ensure a stable and functioning housing market.

This Bill is set in the context of looking at the constitutional balance between the rights of private property and the principle of social justice and the common good. And while it represents a strong and comprehensive legislative response to the issues, it has to be acknowledged that legislation alone, cannot fix everything.

Jan O'Sullivan invited several key stakeholders including the Irish Council for Social Housing, Threshold, Focus Ireland, USI and many other interested parties.

The purpose of this Bill is to amend various pieces of legislation in order to make improvements to the current serious shortage in supply of housing for sale or for rent at affordable prices, and to ensure a stable and functioning housing market.

Before the launch both Ministers headed along to the former Tait Clothing site where 82 new units are currently under construction. In our housing plan we want to build more social homes and will deliver 1110,00 social housing units by 2020. Right now, over 5,000 social homes are under construction and in the last year, over 420 local authority staff have been added to housing sections all around the country

We will create a new €1 billion Green Infastructure Fund to fund immediate action needed on climate change . Having delivered ground-breaking and historic climate change legislation we will now invest in the energy sector to create jobs, grow business and benefit the economy by expading the Better Energy. Warmer Homes scheme to retrofit 225,000 homes over the next five years.

Minister for the Environment, Alan Kelly has written in today's Irish Independent about the devastating flooding that has happened in the last few months and how we need to prioritise a long-term plan for flood prevention. You can read the original article here.

Today the Climate Action & Low Carbon Development Bill 2015 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. After years of promised Climate Change legislation, the Labour Party has ensured that this important legislation has finally gone through all stages,

Unlike previous Governments, we have not shied away from our commitment to address climate change. Instead, we have sought to responded in a comprehensive manner to one of the most challenging issues facing this and future generations.

Social housing got a boost on Friday, when Environment Minister Alan Kelly announced a further €23million to deal with a range of issues such as housing adaptation and energy efficiency.

€15million will be targeted at important energy works such as improving attic and wall insulation. This will make local authority homes warmer and more comfortable for tenants, as well as creating jobs in the green economy.

He said: “As a result of the further €15 million for energy retrofitting works to social houses, I expect to see over 4,000 houses becoming warmer homes, with reduced fuel bills this winter.”